Passion With the Human Element

Recently, Dow launched a unique and exciting new advertising campaign (view it here), called the Human Element campaign.  It is based on the concept that the missing ingredient in the Periodic Table is the human element - the power of Dow people and others working together.  Very clever and very applicable to the Talent Management space.

Too often, the promise of a push-button solution ignores the human element.  Organizations that covet a "passionate" workforce often quickly constrain employees who show the slightest bit of actual passion for what they do.  What does passion look like? (simmer down, now)  Honestly, sometimes it looks like frustration or even anger.  Sometimes it looks intense and focused, maybe short-tempered or stressed out.  Sometimes it resembles resistance or stubbornness. 

The opposite of passion is apathy, indifference or the Old French ennui (Listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest - and the root of the word annoy).  If your employees are always agreeable, can they really be passionate about what they're doing? 

Passionate people care - deeply.  They pour themselves into their work and they fight for what they believe in.  Passionate people have conviction, they are dedicated to a cause and, yes, they sometimes act... human.

Bonus Nugget

On Dow's website there is a copy of a letter to retirees reminding them that they play an important role as ambassadors for the company -even after they are gone.  It is part of their DowFriends portal for retirees.  If your organization isn't strategically Offboarding to connect with, draw upon and mobilize your retiring workforce, you ought to be.